22/05/2026
What a fighter you are Robert Hardy!
Bucket Lists and Obstacles
The training was complete. Only two weeks remained before my May 23rd Ottawa Race Weekend challenge: Racing for Parkinson's … with Parkinson’s.
The goal was simple but meaningful — complete 5 km in 45 minutes.
Then, on May 9th, everything changed.
Two strokes. One on the right side. One on the left.
Vickie brought me to Hôpital Glengarry Memorial Hospital - HGMH where I was transferred by ambulance to the stroke unit at Cornwall Community Hospital The night was filled with scans, blood tests, monitors, and uncertainty. But by Saturday morning, after breakfast, I was already back walking the hospital halls with a basic rollator supplied by the hospital.
Between naps, tests, and more walking, my focus stayed on one thing: making it to the Cornwall Lions Club Sports Awards Banquet on May 13th.
After 30 years of fighting through leukemia, blood clots, multiple cancers, Parkinson’s, 35,000 km of bicycle racing, 13,000 km of walker racing, and earning a black belt in jiu-jitsu… I received the Terry Fox Award.
On Tuesday, the day before the banquet, the diagnosis became official: two TIAs. The doctor’s advice? Keep training. Medication: blood thinners.
Wednesday came. I was fragile, but we made it. I even found parking for my Trionic racing machine inside the hall. Sitting beside the Female Athlete of the Year — preparing for a 200-mile race — I couldn’t help but smile. My own goal may only be 5 km in 45 minutes… but for this 75-and-still-alive athlete, that’s as good as it gets.
Next stop:🏃 Ottawa Race Weekend — May 23rd💙 Racing for Parkinson’s… with Parkinson’s. Racing for PIPR - Partners Investing in Parkinson 's Research.
The Ottawa Hospital - L'Hôpital d'Ottawa North Glengarry